July 2022 THE JAMES WEBB PHOTO RELEASE
FIRST PHOTOS FROM THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE RELEASED THIS WEEK—-
VISITING GUEST ASTRONOMER STEVE MCALISTER HERE ON JULY 20TH
I hope that everyone has had the opportunity to see some of the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope which will revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos. The first picture of a Deep Field is the deepest & highest- resolution of galaxies as they appeared 13 billion years ago & was released on Monday by President Biden with additional later releases by NASA , the European Space Agency & the Canadian Space Agency. The San Juan Stargazers have been waiting for years for these photos. Bob Mitchel who worked on the Webb & has a house in Pagosa did his first presentation to us on the James Webb in 2013. He will be speaking again this September & the whole community will be invited.
The Stargazers are adding a new night of amazing educational opportunities for all of Pagosa. Starting in August we will be meeting once a month for a new program titled HUBBLE & THE WEBB. We are hoping that many students & their parents will attend this free & very exciting program. We are asking for community involvement. Anyone can download the Webb pictures & present them at this gathering. Then other people can add information & comments. We will all learn a great deal! Webb photos will have priority, but if there is time left we will study Hubble’s Greatest Hits. The date for the first session will be given next week.
On Wednesday, July 20, we will all test our luck with weather by having Steve McAlister from the Westcliff Observatory here to help people with their telescopes & then give us a tour of the deep night sky that will “knock your socks off”. He came last summer & this summer on June 1, and he was so helpful with solving problems with telescopes and giving us a fantastic view of deep-sky objects. Those who attended on June 1, are still in awe. That night we are inviting anyone in the community to bring their dusty boxed or closeted telescopes to the Chimney Rock upper parking lot. You can join the Stargazers & have Steve help get your scope set up & functioning or at least know what immediately needs to be done to accomplish that. With your membership you will have an entire year of training to use your scope. This could change your life! That questionable scope has been sitting there gathering dust for long enough!
On Friday, July 15, there will be a Night Sky Program at Chimney Rock entitled Stars & Galaxies. You don’t need a reservation. Just show up & we can fit you in the big beautiful amphitheater. The gate opens at 7:15 with the program beginning at 8PM. We have added a new speaker, Tom Hanchurt, who worked for years at NASA’s Mission Control & personally spoke with numerous astronauts. He was an absolute hit with the kids at his first presentation. You also will learn about the Ancient People & their study of Astronomy & amazing information about Stars & Galaxies.
Also note our regular club meeting on Thursday, July 28, at the Community United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall on 434 Lewis Street . At 6pm there is a social time with coffee, tea, etc. & a treat.
This month’s program on the Galilean Moons of Jupiter will be interesting & very useful since they are sometimes visible to the naked- eye & for sure with binoculars. All members will receive a special bonus surprise for attending.
If you would like to join the San Juan Stargazers, our new membership year begins July1. You will also receive Reflector Magazine which is the publication of the National Astronomical League of which you automatically become a member. To join both groups & get an excellent astronomy magazine, annual membership is only $25/ family. This year there is a fabulous special gift for new & renewing members. It will help you become the astronomer you have always dreamed of being. You will LOVE it! You can join the club at any of our events.
The San Juan Stargazers Club is part of the Astronomical League celebrating its 75th year of service which includes over 250 clubs from all over the US. Our local group also has a web-site—www.sanjuanstargazers.org. CHECK IT OUT for more information & beautiful Hubble photos. We welcome everyone to learn more about our AMAZING UNIVERSE. Hope to see you soon!